This Day in Naval History - July

The Battle at Kolberger Heide. Danish fleet of around 40 ships, divided into 3 squadron, under HM. Christian the IVth fights a Swedish fleet of 42 ships, under Admiral Klas Fleming. The King is wounded during the battle, and loses one eye.

1731

Adam Duncan born in Lundie, Perthshire.

1795

Sir John Jervis promoted to full Admiral

1797

Naval Regulations passed by US Congress

1800

First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S.

Boats of HMS Unite (40), Cptn. Chamberlayne, captured St. François di Poale (8) from Port Hercole, then further along the coast, joined by HMS Cephalus (18), Augustus William Clifford, captured 3 merchant vessels.

27 Danish gunboats, under Lt. Jørgen C. de Falsen, attacks 4 British ships-of-the-line, 2 frigates and 2 brigs, escorting a large convoy, off the island of Hjelm. 4 gunboats are lost, while 1 British frigate and 17 merchant men are heavily damaged.

First day of the 3 day Battle of Çeşme. A Russian Fleet fleet of 9 ships of the line and other vessels under Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov found the Ottoman fleet of 16 ships of the line and other vessels under Mandalzade Hüsameddin Pasha anchored just north of Çeşme Bay, western Anatolia. Towards the end of the engagement an Ottoman ship of the line blew up after her main topsail caught fire and the fire quickly spread to other ships. Three fireships were sent in and almost the entire Ottoman fleet burnt. They lost 15 ships of the line, 6 frigates and many smaller vessels.

1811

Danish attack a British convoy off Hielme Island but are repulsed with the loss of 4 gun-boats and 120 men.

The Battle of Grenada. Engagement between British fleet of 21 ships of the line and 1 frigate, under Vice-Admiral John Byron, and French fleet of 25 ships of the line and several frigates, under Admiral Comte d'Estaing.

1780

HMS Romney (50), Cptn. George Johnstone, took French Perle (18) off Cape Finisterre

1782

The Battle of Negapatam. British fleet of 11 ships, under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, engaged a French fleet of 11 ships, under the Bailli de Suffren, off the coast of India.

1801

Action off Algeciras between British squadron of 6 ships of the line, under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, and French squadron of 3 ships of the line and a frigate, under Rear-Admiral Linois. HMS Hannibal (74), Cptn. Solomon Ferris, grounded and was taken.

HMS Carron, John Furneaux, wrecked 4 miles to the north of the Black Pagoda, Poorie.

07 July

1777

American frigates Hancock (32), Cptn. John Manley, and Boston (30), Cptn. Hector McNeil, were escorting their prize HMS Fox (28) to Boston. They were pursued by the British frigate HMS Rainbow (44), Cptn. Sir George Collier, who was joined by HMS Flora (32), Cptn. John Brisbane. The American ships steered different courses and Flora took Fox while Rainbow took Hancock. Cptn. McNeil was dismissed the American service for deserting Cptn. Manley.

1796

HMS Quebec (32) and convoy engaged two French frigates.

1798

US Congress rescinds treaties with France. Quasi War begins with Frigate Delaware capturing French privateer Croyable

HMS Resolution, Cptn. James Cook, departed from Plymouth on 3rd voyage of discovery.

HMS Egmont schooner (10) lost

1794

Horatio Nelson's right eye injured at Calvi.

1795

French fleet with 17 ships of the line, under Rear-Admiral Pierre Martin, engaged British fleet of 22 ships of the line,under Vice-Admiral Hotham, off the Hyères Islands (off the French Mediterranean coast). HMS Cumberland (74), Cptn. R. S. Rowley, captured Alcide. which caught fire and exploded.

1801

British squadron, under Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, engaged Franco-Spanish squadron, under Rear-Admiral Linois, off Gibraltar as they took the captured HMS Hannibal (74) to Cadiz. In darkness HMS Superb (74), Cptn. Richard Goodwin Keats, engaged Real Carlos (112), Cptn Don J. Esquerra, with some shot hitting San Hermenegildo (112), Cptn Don J. Emparran. In the confusion the two Spanish ships engaged one another, collided and a fire spread to both resulting in their loss. Superb went on to take San Antonio (74).

1804

HMS Aigle (36), Cptn. George Wolfe, drove Charente (20), John Sanson, and Joie (8), Benjamin Godobert, ashore in the mouth of the Gironde and burnt them.

1814

HMS Landrail (4), Lt. R. D. Lancaster, taken by U.S. privateer Syren (7) in the Channel.

Russian fleet of 30 ships of the line and 180 galleys under Admiral Apraxine, defeated a Swedish fleet, about one-third of that strength, under Admiral Erinschild off the island of Aland. The Czar, Peter the Great, serving under Apraxine as Rear-Admiral, captured Erinschild's flagship.

1780

HMS Nonsuch (64), Cptn. Sir James Wallace, took French frigate Belle Poule (32) off the mouth of the Loire

1809

Fort at Carry-le-Rouet, near Marseilles, stormed and carried by boats of HMS Scout (18), William Raitt.

1813

HMS Contest (14), James Rattray, and HMS Mohawk (18) captured U.S. schooner Asp (3) up a narrow inlet called Yeacomoco Creek in the Potomac River.

The US prize vessel Greenwich captured the British whaler Seringapatam. Greenwich was commanded by Lieutenant John M. Gamble, USMC, the first Marine to command a ship.

1853

Commodore Matthew Perry lands and holds first meeting with Japanese at Uraga, Japan

CSS Arkansas sailed down the Yazoo River, encountering the Union gunboats Carondelet, Tyler, and Queen of the West. In the ensuing battle, Arkansas damaged the first two gunboats and made her way into the Mississippi River, where she boldly fought through the Federal fleet to find refuge at the Confederate fortress at Vicksburg.

US Congress creates rank of Rear Admiral. David G. Farragut is named the first Rear Admiral

17 July

1788

A Russian fleet of 17 ships of the line under Admiral Samuel Greig met the Swedish fleet of 15 ships of the line under Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland, off Hogland Island, Gulf of Finland. Greig's flagship, Rostislav (100), forced the surrender of Prins Gustav (70), Vice-Admiral Gustav Wachtmeister and the Swedes disabled Vladislav (74), which also surrendered to Kronprins Gustav Adolf (62). The fighting continued for six hours, and the fleets only separated after dark with the Swedish ships beginning to run out of ammunition.

HMS Thames (32), Cptn. Granville George Waldegrave, HMS Pilot (18), John Toup Nicholas, and HMS Weazle (18), Henry Prescott, at Amanthe. Six gunboats, two scampavias and 28 transports were taken and the rest of a convoy destroyed.

1863

U.S. Squadron bombards Fort Wagner, NC

1866

In the US Rank of Admiral created and David G. Farragut is appointed the first Admiral in the US Navy

26 July

1798

HMS Brilliant (28), Cptn. Hon. C. Paget, engaged Vertu and Regenre.

HMS Garland (28), Cptn. James Athol Wood, wrecked on the coast of Madagascar.

Squadron under Rear-Admiral Dilkes destroyed French ships off Granville.

1711

Jamaica squadron under Commodore James Littleton captured a Spanish galleon.

1756

Sir Robert Holmes' action off Louisbourg with De Beauzier.

1770

William Bligh entered as an Able Seaman on HMS Hunter (10)

1776

As the Continental brig Reprisal, Cptn. Lambert Wickes, approached St. Pierre Harbor, Martinique, she was attacked by the British sloop-of-war Shark (16). After a sharp encounter, Shark withdrew and Reprisal entered port.

1778

First Battle of Ushant. British fleet of 30 ships of the line, under Admiral the Hon. Augustus Keppel, fought an inconclusive action against a French fleet of 29 ships, under Admiral Louis Guillouet, comte d'Orvilliers.

1808

HMS Pickle schooner, Lt. Moses Cannadey, wrecked on the Chipiona shoal at the entrance to Cadiz as she was entering carrying dispatches. .

1811

Boats of HMS Active (38), Cptn. James Alexander Gordon, captured 18 vessels and destroyed 10, in a creek of Ragosinza, without the loss of a British man.

Frigate USS St. Lawrence, Cptn. Hugh Y. Purviance, spotted a schooner flying English colors and engaged the vessel. Fleeing, the schooner then ran up the Confederate flag and fired three shots. Returning fire, St. Lawrence hit the vessel twice, once in her bow. Survivors of the sunken vessel revealed it had been the Confederate privateer, Petrel.

29 July

1710

HMS Kent (70) captured Superbe (64)

1710

HMS Swallow Prize (32) wrecked off Corsica

1775

HMS Resolution, Cmdr. James Cook, arrived in Britain after 2nd voyage of discovery.

*Dates of events prior to September 1752 may be quoted differently in some countries as both the Julian and Gregorian calendars were in use by countries. Calendars were regularised when Britain passed the Calendar Act of 1751 An Act for Regulating the Commencement of the Year; and for Correcting the Calendar now in Use.